June 30, 2010

Bush's Poodle to Receive Liberty Medal

The National Constitution Center this morning announced who will get the 2010 Liberty Medal this fall in Philadelphia.

The announcement by the Constitution Center, host of the September 13th ceremony, cites Blair’s “steadfast commitment to conflict resolution” both in Northern Ireland during his term, and afterward in such far-flung places as Kosovo and the Middle East.

There are millions of people in Afghanistan and Iraq who are familiar with Tony Blair's “steadfast commitment to conflict resolution”.

I think Mike Nutter is tone-deaf to irony and is sincere when he says:

“Can you just imagine the electricity in the air when two old friends, two masters of the English language, two men who have struggled for peace and human dignity meet here for the Liberty Medal ceremony? Bill Clinton, former president and Liberty Award winner himself and now chair of the Constitution Center board, and Tony Blair.”

I imagine there would be more "electricity in the air" if George W. Bush were to hand Blair his medal, and then scratch him behind his ears. Or maybe the presenter should have been the 2004 Liberty Medal recipient:

I have to believe that someone at the State Department, which posted that picture, also has a sense of humor.